Enemy at the Gates

I am a stone.

I do not move.

Very slowly, I put snow in my mouth.

Then he won't see my breath.

I take my time.

I let him come closer. I have only one bullet.

I aim at his eye very gently. My finger presses on the trigger.

I do not tremble.

I have no fear.

I'm a big boy now.

Ready, Vassili?

Now, Vassili. Fire!

Fire, Vassili! Fire!

Come on, pick your feet up.

Get on your feet. Prepare to board the train.

You there, come along with me now. This way, pal.

All civilians, get out!

Make way, let the civilians off.

This is a military convoy.

No one stays on board but our valiant soldiers.

This is a convoy to Stalingrad. Only for the soldiers of the Red Army.

No one stays on board but our valiant soldiers.

All aboard!

Autumn, 1942.

Europe lies crushed beneath the Nazi jackboot.

The German Third Reich is at the height of its power.

Hitler's armies are charging through the heart of the Soviet Union

towards the oil fields of Asia.

One last obstacle remains.

A city on the Volga where the fate of the world is being decided.

Stalingrad.

The Red Army and all citizens of the Soviet Union

must defend every inch of Soviet soil. Must fight to the last...

Glorious Comrade Stalin has ordered not another step backwards,

so the people of the Soviet Union shall be free.

Let's go forwards, Comrades. Not a step backwards.

Listen to these letters sent by Russian mothers to their sons on the front.

Volodya, our child, I know that it is for our motherland...

I know it is for our motherland that you are giving your life.

Everyone here knows that you will not fall back.

Everyone here is proud of you.

Your father is dead. Your brothers are dead.

Avenge us on the hordes of fascists.

Nobody move! Stay on the boat!

Get back or I'll shoot. Get back from the rails or we'll shoot.

Shoot the traitors!

Prepare to disembark!

Come on, come on! Move!

Come on, Comrades. Come on!

Move or you'll be shot!

Over here, stretcher.

- The one with the rifle shoots. - One out of two gets a rifle.

The one without follows him. When the one with the rifle gets killed,

the one who is following picks up the rifle and shoots.

The one with the rifle shoots.

The one without follows him.

When the one with the rifle gets killed,

the one who is following picks up the rifle and shoots.

The one with the rifle shoots.

Soldiers of the glorious Red Army,

from now on, it is either victory or death.

- Those who retreat... - I need a rifle.

- ...Will be shot. - I need a rifle.

There will be no mercy for cowards and traitors.

It's hopeless, Comrades. Get back.

Fall back! Fall back!

It's no good. Get back. Get back.

In the name of the Soviet Union, not a step backwards, or we shoot!

- No retreat. Not a step back. - No mercy.

Deserters will be shot.

- Fire! - Fire!

No mercy for cowards.

Russians, surrender.

You will see your home again. This is not your war.

Join your German comrades. They understand your suffering

and will care more for you than your own officers,

who are only sending you to your death. The Third Reich is not your enemy.

The enemy is bloodthirsty Stalin and his Bolshevik gang...

Fire!

You'll get us caught, Comrade Commissar.

With your permission, Comrade Commissar.

Which one do you think I should I aim at first?

You should wait till there's an explosion.

- Do you know how to shoot? - A little.

Damn!

Don't shoot. Don't shoot. He's looking at us.

Thank you, Comrade Commissar.

Danilov. Political officer, second class, 21 st infantry.

Vassili Zaitsev.

On this day, September 20th, 1942, a young shepherd boy from the Urals

arrived in the city of Stalingrad on the banks of the Volga.

His name is Vassili Zaitsev.

Like thousands before him, he came to answer Comrade Stalin's call.

Armed only with a rifle, he quickly made the fascist invader realize

that from now on he would be punished for every step he took in the motherland,

that from here on the only way was back.

What do you think?

I think Comrade Commissar has been overgenerous.

Let me go!

By order of Comrade Stalin, no civilian can leave the city.

Get back there!

Move back!

Stand away, or we will open fire.

Stand away!

Keep back!

Get back or we shoot.

Back! Keep back, there!

Make way for Comrade Stalin's envoy.

I carried out my orders. I sent in all of my boys.

But the Germans engulfed us.

They have artillery, aircraft, tanks.

- And me, what did I have? - A sacred duty to resist.

I have to report to the boss.

Perhaps you would prefer to avoid the red tape.

My name is Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev.

I've come to take things in hand here.

This city is not Kursk, nor is it Kiev, nor Minsk.

This city is Stalingrad.

Stalingrad!

This city bears the name of the boss. It's more than a city, it's a symbol.

If the Germans capture this city,

the entire country will collapse.

Now, I want our boys to raise their heads.

I want them to act like they have balls.

I want them to stop shitting their pants.

That's your job.

As political officers, I'm counting on you.

You, what's your suggestion?

Shoot all the other generals who have retreated and their chiefs of staff, too.

Make some examples. Deport the families of the deserters...

That's all been done.

Give them hope.

Here, the men's only choice is between German bullets and ours.

But there's another way, a way of courage.

A way of love of the motherland.

We must publish the army newspaper again, we must tell magnificent stories,

stories that exalt sacrifice, bravery.

We must make them believe in a victory.

We must give them hope, pride, a desire to fight.

Yes.

We need to make examples, but examples to follow.

What we need are heroes.

Do you know any heroes around here?

Yes, Comrade. I know one.

That's me. Vassili Zaitsev. That's me.

No, you're not dreaming. It's your name.

We made the front page.

They haven't changed a word.

Do you have any idea what this means?

It's not the back page. It's not the second page.

- It's the front page. The front page! - Front page.

They're going to reprint our article everywhere,

in the Caucasus, in the Crimea, even in the Urals.

Tomorrow morning, Stalin himself will be sitting over breakfast,

reading my words, memorizing your name.

We're famous, Vassili. Khrushchev loved the article.

He's promoted me to the general staff

and you to sniper division.

- Well, that's good. - It's very good.

- It's very good. It's great! - It's very great!

- It's great! - It's great!

It's great for both of us because we did it together. Together.

Well, now, admittedly, I did all the hard work.

You know, you're very lucky I can't fight back.

- Why's that? - Because Khrushchev told me

to make sure nothing happens to you.

- You're too important. - I'm too valuable.

Yes. Careful of my glasses, please, they're new.

Sorry, sir.

- I'm famous. - I'm famous.

- We're famous. - I'm famous.

Vassili, the young shepherd from the Urals,

killed his 12th German officer today.

Used to hunt wolves, now he shoots fascists.

- Today Vassili Zaitsev shot his 23rd... - One more colonel shot by...

He is an example to us all.

Today Vassili Zaitsev killed his 32nd general.

...Thirty-sixth German officer...

...the Germans you have killed? Today Vassili Zaitsev killed...

...eleven dog tags retrieved by sniper Vassili Zaitsev...

More and more men and women,

fighters from all branches of our armed forces,

volunteer to join the sniper division and learn the skills of Vassili Zaitsev.

I am a stone.

I breathe slowly.

I aim at the eye.

So it is you.

The great Vassili Zaitsev.

My mother makes the best potatoes and bacon in town.

Sounds good.

When she sees you, she won't believe her eyes.

- How many today? - Only two.

And the last one, why didn't you shoot him?

He was only a foot soldier. It wasn't worth giving away my position.

Bless you.

We know how much we owe you.

We pray for you every day.

Every evening we listen to them talk about you on Radio Moscow.

Thanks.

You've certainly managed well down here.